The Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR), a project funded by the European Union (EU), has organised a two-day state-level Conflict prevention and mitigation dialogue for 200 participants in Katsina.

The multi-stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening coordination, promoting peaceful coexistence, and preventing conflict during the 2026 farming season in Katsina.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, highlighted the significance of the training designed to equip communities, especially those in frontline areas, with conflict resolution skills and strategies for peaceful coexistence.

He cited successes recorded in communities such as Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, and Kankara, where trained stakeholders have helped in integrating peace agreements and reducing tensions between farmers and pastoralists.

The commissioner however, noted that communities without such training often face challenges in maintaining peace due to lack of awareness and coordination.

He further called on stakeholders to intensify efforts toward promoting community peace to ensure a hitch-free farming season across the state.

The commissioner stressed that peace remained a critical requirement for agricultural productivity and economic growth, noting that farmers and cattle rearers could only thrive in a stable and secure environment.

According to him, community-based peacebuilding initiatives have proven to be effective in tackling conflicts, as they promote local ownership and participation in resolving disputes.

Bakori emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement, describing traditional and religious leaders as vital in fostering dialogue and mutual understanding among community members.

The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the state government to supporting initiatives that promote peace and stability, particularly in rural communities.

Earlier, Mr Philip Ikita, Programme Manager at Mercy Corps, said the initiative was designed to reinforce peace and socio-economic stability in Northwest Nigeria through inclusive and locally driven approaches.

Ikita explained that the programme was built on the successes of previous interventions, particularly the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation (CMCR) project, to address the root causes of recurring conflicts in the region.

He noted that the CPCRR Programme currently operates in 48 communities across 10 Local Government Areas in Zamfara and Katsina, focusing on enhancing resilience, strengthening livelihoods and promoting social cohesion.

According to him, the state-level dialogue is a multi-stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening coordination among government institutions, communities and development partners.

“The objective is to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders, identify potential conflict triggers, and develop practical strategies to mitigate tensions during the farming season,” he said.

Ikita added that the dialogue would also produce a joint action plan to guide conflict prevention efforts across affected communities.

According to him, the event is convened by Mercy Corps in collaboration with the Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock Development under the CPCRR Programme.

He said that the CPCRR Programme is being implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with Mercy Corps and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the targeted local government areas are Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, Kankara, Dandume, Faskari, Sabuwa and Safana.

NAN

About The Author

Admin

See author's posts

A farmers’ support organisation, Himma Agricultural Support Initiatives (HASI), has trained about 10,000 farmers across Katsina State on improved farming techniques aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.

The President of the organisation, Prof. Sanusi Jari, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement tagged ‘Knowledge Dissemination Meeting’ held in Katsina on Saturday.

He said the training focused on equipping smallholder farmers with Good Agronomic Practices, covering all stages of crop production from land preparation to harvesting.

According to him, the initiative was designed to bridge the knowledge gap among farmers and ensure increased yields through the adoption of proper farming methods.

“We have trained about 10,000 members on good agronomic practices. These include land preparation, seed selection, planting methods, spacing, and other critical aspects required to grow crops successfully,” Jari said.

He explained that the organisation adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach, where one representative from each ward was trained and tasked with transferring the knowledge to at least 10 other farmers within their communities.

“This method ensures that knowledge spreads faster and reaches more farmers at the grassroots level,” he added.

Jari stated that HASI also works closely with local communities to promote sustainable farming practices, including land restoration techniques such as the construction of zai pits to rehabilitate degraded farmland.

He said communities actively participate by providing labour and identifying degraded lands requiring intervention, thereby ensuring ownership and sustainability of the projects.

The don further explained that the organisation prioritised five major staple crops, maize, guinea corn, millet, and cowpea, based on their importance to the state’s food system and adaptability to local conditions.

He expressed concern that many farmers still plant grains instead of certified seeds, which significantly reduces yield potential.

“Only about 10 per cent of farmers currently use improved seeds. We want to change that by making quality seeds available at the community level so farmers do not have to travel long distances to access them,” he said.

He added that selected farmers were being supported with foundation seeds and trained to produce quality seeds within their localities, ensuring availability of climate-adapted varieties and improving adoption rates.

Jari added that the stakeholders’ engagement was organised to share experiences, review progress, and strengthen collaboration among partners.

He said the initiative was being supported by a United Kingdom-based donor organisation Propcom, an organisation which the state government linked the farmers’ group with.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Aliyu Lawal-Zakari, represented by Shamsudeen Abdul-aziz, acting Director Planning, Research and Agriculture, commended the group for their initiative.

He further assured them of all the necessary support from the ministry, adding that their initiative geared towards the same direction with the state government agricultural agenda in the state.

NAN

About The Author

Admin

See author's posts

Farmers participating in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) groundnut initiative in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State have recorded up to 100 per cent increase in yield, following the adoption of improved seeds and modern farming techniques introduced through the programme.

Our correspondent who attended a field day organised by SAPZ in Bebeji on Thursday reports that the initiative has significantly boosted farmers’ productivity and income levels.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN expressed satisfaction with the support received under the SAPZ programme, describing it as “transformative” and a “turning point” for groundnut cultivation in the area.

One of the farmers, Malam Umaru Garba, said he harvested twice the amount of groundnuts compared to the previous farming season.

“Before SAPZ came, I used to get only about 10 bags from my one hectare farm. This year, I got 20 bags. The improved seeds and training on modern planting methods made a big difference,” Garba said.

Another farmer, Hajiya Maryam Dankaka, said the programme had not only improved her yield but also enhanced her financial stability.

“For the first time, I was able to sell enough groundnuts to pay school fees for my children and still have money to reinvest. The programme taught us better planting spacing, pest control, and post-harvest handling,” she said.

Similarly, a young farmer, Aliyu Musa, commended the facilitators and agricultural experts working with SAPZ for their continuous field visits and technical guidance.

“They visit us regularly to monitor progress and advise us. This has really helped us to avoid mistakes and improve our output,” Musa said.

Also speaking, Malam Sani Usman, another beneficiary, appealed to the SAPZ management to provide farmers with groundnut harvesting machines and ensure timely distribution of improved seeds ahead of the next farming season.

“If we can get access to modern harvesters, our work will be faster and cleaner, and we can produce more. We are very grateful for what SAPZ has done so far,” he said.

The SAPZ programme, supported by development partners and the Kano State Government, aims to promote agro-industrial growth by enhancing value chains, improving farmers’ productivity, and supporting the establishment of processing hubs across the state.

Experts at the field day noted that the groundnut initiative in Bebeji has demonstrated the potential of integrated agricultural interventions to transform rural livelihoods and contribute to food security in Nigeria.

About The Author

Admin

See author's posts